A friend's email asks for money? Pause first.

A friend emails you. They're stuck, and they need money fast. It sounds just like them. It even mentions real details from their life.

Here's how that can happen. When someone breaks into an email account, they can read what's inside. AARP reported on October 9 that criminals may use AI to scan a hacked inbox. They look for details about family, health, travel, or money. Those details make a plea for help look like it came from your friend.

Signs your own account may be hacked:

• You can't log in.
• You get a notice that your username or password changed, but you didn't change it.
• You get a notice about a login from a device or place you don't know.
• Friends or family get emails or messages you didn't send. Some have strange links or fake pleas for help or money.

What the FTC says to do:

1. Update your computer's security software and run a scan. If it finds something suspicious, delete it and restart.
2. Follow your email provider's steps to recover your account.
3. Change your password to a strong one that's hard to guess.
4. Sign out of all devices. Anyone logged in somewhere else gets kicked out.
5. Turn on two-factor authentication if your account offers it. That means a second check after your password, like a code.
6. Make sure the recovery email and phone number on the account are yours.
7. Check your email settings for forwarding rules. A forwarding rule quietly sends copies of your email to another address. Delete any you didn't set up.
8. Look in your sent and deleted folders for emails the hacker sent or read.
9. Tell your friends about the hack. Ask them not to click links in emails from you. Ask them to ignore pleas for help or money.

You can report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

“Our tip” is LookAgainAI's own guidance. LookAgainAI is educational and can't check real messages or accounts.